Curry knows West foes are loading up to chase Warriors

Warriors guard Stephen Curry took a break from his basketball camp Monday to talk about the NBA's reshaped, treacherous Western Conference.

Media: rkroichick@sfchronicle.com / sfchronicle.com

Three days after completing his crossover adventure on the golf course, Stephen Curry resurfaced in his customary domain Monday — on the basketball court, working with some of the nation’s top high school players at his camp in Walnut Creek.

He also hoisted three-point shots, played a lighthearted game of one-on-one with a young kid (who twice swiped the ball from Curry) and talked about the NBA’s reshaped landscape.

Much has changed in the Western Conference since we last saw Curry on Bay Area hardwood. He was prancing around Oracle Arena with his Warriors teammates on June 12 after they dispatched Cleveland to win their second championship in three years.

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 10: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets and Chris Paul #3 of the LA Clippers look on during the second half of a game at Staples Center on April 10, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 10: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets and Chris Paul #3 of the LA Clippers look on during the second half of a game at Staples Center on April 10, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.

Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

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Stephen Curry listens to a question from a reporter at the SC30 Select Camp for high school basketball players in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Monday, August 7, 2017. Curry spoke about off-season news, his new contract with the Warriors and other topics at the camp. less

Stephen Curry listens to a question from a reporter at the SC30 Select Camp for high school basketball players in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Monday, August 7, 2017. Curry spoke about off-season news, his new ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

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Microphones at the ready as Stephen Curry answers a question from the press at the SC30 Select Camp for high school basketball players in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Monday, August 7, 2017. Curry spoke about off-season news, his new contract with the Warriors and other topics. less

Microphones at the ready as Stephen Curry answers a question from the press at the SC30 Select Camp for high school basketball players in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Monday, August 7, 2017. Curry spoke about ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

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Stephen Curry is holding the SC30 Select Camp for top high school basketball players in Walnut Creek.

Stephen Curry is holding the SC30 Select Camp for top high school basketball players in Walnut Creek.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Curry knows West foes are loading up to chase Warriors

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Fast forward eight weeks and the West now features Chris Paul in Houston, Paul George in Oklahoma City and Jimmy Butler in Minnesota. Golden State’s rivals are loading up as much as possible to confront Curry, Durant & Co.

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“You look around the Western Conference, and the amount of talent up and down the board is going to be crazy,” Curry said. “… Everybody is trying to make moves to become championship contenders. Before our first Finals appearance, we were doing the same thing — trying to load up and put together the right combination of guys to take our team to the next level.

“It’s great for the league that there’s that much movement and shuffling of the deck, and teams taking chances to try to get better.”

One of the most intriguing makeovers will take place in Houston, where the Rockets hope to blend the talents of Chris Paul and James Harden. They have combined for 14 All-Star appearances in 20 NBA seasons collectively, with only one trip to the Finals (Harden with the Thunder in 2012).

Paul and Harden present a fascinating tandem, given Paul’s long history at point guard and Harden’s successful transition to the position last season. Ever-creative Houston head coach Mike D’Antoni no doubt has a plan for his new-look backcourt, and Curry is eager to see how it unfolds.

“I’m very curious, because I have to play against them four times at least,” he said. “We’ll have to see how they work together, and we’re going to have to figure out how to beat them.

“I guess it may seem like it’ll be a little different, but they’re two high-IQ guys who know how to play the game. They should know how to adjust to each other if they have to.

“That’s part of the whole Western Conference equation — you’ve got Minnesota, Houston, San Antonio trying to make some moves. All the teams at the top have gotten better, I think.”

The Spurs, the Warriors’ chief threat last season, added forward Rudy Gay to the mix. The Timberwolves didn’t even make the playoffs last season, but they bear watching after a flurry of moves highlighted by the arrival of All-Star guard Jimmy Butler from Chicago.

So even though the Warriors kept their core together, they still must navigate a freshly treacherous West to return to the Finals for a fourth consecutive year.

Curry, of course, was part of the brigade re-signing with Golden State this summer. He inked a five-year, $201 million contract, joining Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, Zaza Pachulia and JaVale McGee in choosing to stay with the Warriors.

“We have a great potential and opportunity to do amazing things and win more championships,” Curry said. “When you have that chemistry, you don’t want it to end. You don’t want to start over. You want to take advantage of the camaraderie, chemistry and vibe we’ve created.

“So for the front office to get it done and sign all the guys they needed to sign — and add two great players in Omri Casspi and Nick Young, and draft Jordan Bell — I think we got better.”